The Sony Z5 currently reigns as the king of smartphone camera quality according to DxOMark. I've had the opportunity to use a review unit as my daily driver for the past week, and I have been pretty impressed with the image quality thus far.

One thing that I hadn't liked, at all, was that Sony was still using the same clunky camera app that debuted with the original Sony Z. Seriously, five generations of devices all using the same cumbersome UI?

That changes today. The Japanese phone manufacturer has begun the roll-out of the major camera app update that they previewed back at IFA. I have only spent a few minutes with the new layout, but I'll tell you right now, it is much improved.

Here are a few pictures of the old app.

The biggest issue I had with the previous design was that it was set up to favor Superior Auto use. Sony's Superior Auto actually does a pretty decent job, but a more experienced photographer may prefer to use Manual mode, which allows for more granular control.

To access Manual mode in the old app, a user had to hit the mode button to open a list of camera apps (most of which are never used) and then select Manual mode. When in manual mode, all the buttons for adjusting the settings were bunched at the top of the screen, out of thumb's reach, requiring two-handed operation. I know those complaints sound small, but accessing and using manual mode was cumbersome enough that I have mostly ignored it on my Z3.

As you can see by looking at the photos, my two big gripes have both been addressed. Now, users can swipe the screen to seamlessly switch between Superior Auto, Manual, Video, and the additional photo app screen.

The toggles to adjust settings for each camera mode have been moved from the top of the screen to either side of the capture button at the base of the device (with the exception of the flash and camera swap buttons), greatly improving ergonomics and one-handed use. As a result, scene selection, white balance adjustments, and other adjustments are all easier to change.

Additionally, some nice looking Material Design transitions and animations have been added, lending the app a more modern and sleek look befitting of Sony's beautiful flagship.

As good as the update is, there are a couple of other changes I would have liked to see in the new app. I wish that 4K video and slow motion capture were included as options in the video portion of the app, instead of having their own icon in the overflow menu. On the same note, it would also have been great if the stand alone Panorama app had been bundled into Manual mode as a scene option. Those, however, are the only small annoyances I can find so far in the new app design. Overall, it is a vast improvement.

Sony has already begun rolling out the update to all phones in the Z5 family. Users can wait for it to appear on their devices, or grab the APK here to download it immediately.

There is no word on whether this updated camera design will be coming to older devices in the Z portfolio, but as an owner of the Sony Z3, I certainly hope so (I already tried to install the APK on my Z3 to no avail). If and when it does, we will be sure to let you know.

All great phones with different flaws. I went with the Moto but the 6P was my second choice. I'm hoping the features will still be worth it when Marshmallow drops [eventually.]

Johnny Bravo

Just out of curiosity what were your reasons for not making the z5 your number one or two?
I mean Ive been looking through a lot of phones as I have to get a new one as well, and spec-wise the z5 is on par with all the other top phones of this year. Not to mention that its water/dust proof with a really great camera. Also as someone who lives in a dorm, I dont have access to a TV so the remote play will help me play my PS4 in my dorm room.
I guess the only negative sides would be that it has a full hd display instead of a quad hd (I have yet to go check it out in person to see if it makes a difference for me) and I guess the skin. BUt correct me if I am wrong but its fairly close to vanilla isnt it? I mean its no TouchWiz, but its not that bad.

GRAW

Since the M7, I require front facing speakers on any phone. Plus, it's a good way to vote with my wallet.

Jephri

I hate to make your decision tougher than it already is, but the Z5 has dual front facing speakers.

GRAW

I'm just looking at some press shots now and, how the hell do you use the volume rocker? It's going to be in my palm? Also, are the speakers any good? And I really don't want a glass backed phone. I also see there's a lanyard hole in the bottom? What? Also, where the hell do I even buy the Z5 in the states? Sony's own website seems to not want to sell it to me.

Tonic Artos

A lanyard is the killer feature for me. Once you've got that around your wrist, you pretty much don't need cases or to worry about the glass.

Johnny Bravo

Ive been told the speakers are very clear. Probably not as loud in bass and treble as some of the other higher end phones, but very clear.
Glass backed is I guess more of a preference at this point. Manufacturers seem to think a glass back is more "premium" (excuse the pun). However unlike the S6 or 6S it is not a fingerprint magnet due to its matte finish.
I have no idea where you can buy the Z5 (locally) in the states. The brits seem good enough to send the phone (via amazon or something). As I recently moved out of the states, I ironically dont have access to the 6P (which I really wanted) or any Motorola devices.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm really defensive about the Z5, its just that I like doing my homework before I buy a new phone.

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Bospaddenstoel

All Sony devices also come with so called corner 'caps'. They're nearly invisible (they're the same color as the rest of the frame, you can actually see it in the top picture of this article), but they are plastic instead of metal, meaning that if your device drops on any of the corners, you just have a plastic cap that's a bit scuffed and absorbs most of the impact. Repairs to these are also really cheap (compared to Sony having to replace an entire metal frame).

Shamoy Rahman

You shouldn't think about the Z5, replace that option with the Z5P. The Z5P has a market busting 4K display with ultra power efficient mixed rendering algorithms. It has a hydraulic cooling pipe so it doesn't even overheat and the display reaches a 99.9% sRGB color gamut so it can put a tough fight against Super AMOLED. Pair that with water resistance, microSD, dual front firing speakers, there's a dual sim variant, and hosts the world's best smartphone camera with ultra fast autofocus. The Z5P is basically

IP68. I wonder what the z6 with this cooling would be. And if it has OIS, its an instant buy. OIS combined with sony's smart EIS would mean super smooth footage even while handheld.

Shamoy Rahman

What's the point of OIS when its better than the S6 and G4 (which both have OIS) in stabilization? I mean, yeah combining OIS might bring benefits but this DIS is already good enough to not have OIS.

Roh_Mish

Eis isn't that good with video (specially 4k).
Ois allows for the shutter to open for longer duration and thus better low light

Andrew Hope

Well, most of claims were correct except for the camera. Pushing 24m pixels is only gonna be the best in low light if the sensor is massive with said pixels being equally massive. Every flagship takes great shots in good light now, so low light & video are the 2 major differentiators between OEMs.
So seeing as you're clearly Sony fan, could you tell me if the Z5P has the full camera 2.0 api and can I shoot in RAW? The one thing I cannot abide is Sony's camera app, updated or otherwise, it's a joke. I require full manual controls and something that doesn't look like a toy. I don't understand how Sony sensors are the absolute industry standard, but everyone else has got serious about phone photography with software and processing except for them. I mean, dare I say it, even Samsung does a better job in that respect. I really like the look of the things on the Z5P, but the camera is the one thing holding me back on pulling the trigger until I know...
P.S. The clue's in the avatar...

Shamoy Rahman

Z5 sries is currently using its using Fujitsu's hydraulic cooling tech:

Thanks for the info, I'm gonna play the waiting game on this until I've got as many full reviews as possible. TBH, if Sony haven't opened up the api to full Camera2, then it'll be hard to justify for me. Things like DXO mark are in some ways a good reference point, but then my personal camera system Fujifilm X isn't even listed on DXO in spite of being some of the best sensors and glass on the market.

In all honesty, different handsets win on different things, I'm no clearer to picking a winner.

Andrew Hope

Yeah, the heat pipe is needed with the 810 and a glass back. I might wait for the Z6P because a) Knowing Sony, we'll see that in a few months b) Snapdragon 820 will be a beast and get Qualcomm back on track...

Shamoy Rahman

Sony is working on its own SoC now after the 810 issue. Sony has had enough of Qualcomm.

Andrew Hope

I honestly think that's a bad move. Qualcomm did indeed drop the ball with the 810. The switch to 64bit caught them out napping, but they've been the industry leaders for years now, I can forgive this error provided the 820 smashes it outta the park. I would much rather Sony spent their R&D budget on other aspects, than pissing it away on developing their own SOCs. More and more OEMs making in-house SOCs only serves to fragment Android still further & makes it more work for devs and folks like me, that like to tinker with software and roms, knows that in-house means zero custom roms and porting apps etc becomes next to impossible. If they want to lower costs of an ever smaller market, then just go with Mediatek or Huawei's Kirin chips. Both are fantastic value and very innovative too. The move towards full convergence with desktops and laptops moving over to Arm based chips needs a consolidation of manufacturers' to take on the likes of Intel, not further fragmentation. When this happens, we all win...

Shamoy Rahman

No it doesn't. Android OEMs who are developing these chips are all basing them off the same ARM architecture which does not result in any fragmentation whatsoever. Also its possible that Sony may profit more in the future and 820 is not even at the top of the game and following moore's law anymore. The Exynos 8890 and the Huawei Kirin 950 both crush the SD820 so that shows how Qualcomm is already falling behind.

Shamoy Rahman

No I'm not a Sony fanboy but I'm just trying to speak the truth here. I'm advocating for the Z5P because its one of the best device out now. Z5 series has most of the Camera2 API support now and RAW is coming soon in an OTA update.

Andrew Hope

I think it's hard to use the best word "Best" about any device, because it's a totally subjective thing. It's certainly the best for you, I'm just trying to work out if it's the best for me too. It is an attractive overall package. Purely from a technical photography point of view, though,I don't like Sony's processing on their cameras or their phones. I would much rather they give me a clean image with a little noise and grain, than an over-processed shot turned to mush. I have to weigh up, can I live with all those Sony apps that I'll never use and often can't even disable too. I'm more than likely gonna throw on a custom rom, at least Sony are quite dev friendly in that respect, but if they don't open up the api for the camera hardware, then I'll be stuck with a not great camera. It's the same story with LG, the hardware is great on the G4 and V10 but they won't open up the camera api to 3rd party devs and I hate LG's android skin. That kinda pushes me towards the Nexus 6P. I need a decent camera, but it isn't gonna be my main one clearly.

Andrew Hope

I wasn't using the derogatory term Fanboy, but you are a clearly a fan of Sony.

I'm a photographer too and it was annoying to know that the Z5 sensor is so good yet you can't manually set things up how you need them to get the shots you want.

I've ended up with a Nexus 5X, it's a good phone and the camera is decent, doesn't blow me away though but full manual control and RAW is nice.

Andrew Hope

Yeah, part of me wants to pull the trigger on a 6P, but the other part want to wait to see what everyone comes up with next year. Finally, OEMs are getting off the megapixel bandwagon, and getting on with the stuff that actually matters. Sensor, optics, processing in that order...

Roh_Mish

z5 has the same cooling mechanism just smaller. the P has far better display (I tried it in hand and it is really good. And the battery still lasts around 1.5 days.)

Kenny Cornwell

It's also $800 and doesn't have a color I like.

I don't care about 4k and everything else mentioned is in the Z5 as well. If the premium cost $600-$650 then I'd be torn between it and the other 2 phones mainly because I'd like to have a larger display, but since the Z5 is $600-$650 that's my option, not the Z5 Premium.

Shamoy Rahman

Your choice. Z5 is still an excellent flagship though.

Roh_Mish

I have dropped MXP and am confused between 6P and z5. love the z5 but 6P is a nexus an i am using nexus devices since GNex. I think i will be getting z5 mostly.

David Onter

I would go with the Nexus 6P

Kenny Cornwell

I'm considering it, but idk.

Román Rodríguez

Xperia Z5

crandrix

Same here! I have no idea!

Svnjay

"long overdue"

David Onter

It was

Svnjay

How was it?

David Onter

Bad

john

It much much faster n it take less than one sec to look n post pprocess is much much better n faster than before tOi how can it be bad ??? Before u need two handed vcontrol now one hand work fone too

Madis Otenurm

It surely is prettier than before.

XperiaPolice

The best phone money can buy, bar bar none, just got better.

David Onter

Bullshit. The camera on the 6P is great

Chris

The Xperia Z5 looks amazing to me, but I'm waiting for snapdragon 820 phones. Thankfully sony releases a phone ever 6 months so they should have an 820 phone soon. Hopefully it'll be available in the US!

Ørjan Laxaa

Do the new app offer better processing? I've heard some rumors that it does, but it would be nice to get it debunked/confirmed.